Touchdown: A Quick Snap Novella Read online

  “And I want to be the person to give it to her.” My words surprise me, but by the look in Wanda’s eyes they don’t surprise her.

  “You’ve known her a couple of weeks. How could you possibly want to give her the world?”

  “Because I know how precious she is,” I state. “So I’m willing to do anything or be anyone to keep her.”

  She turns away and continues peeling.

  I look back at the dishes and silence descends.

  “She doesn’t let people in. Especially, new people,” Wanda tells me, and I sense the need to remain quiet and let her have her say. “She’s never led a sheltered life. Jasmine knows what’s out there, and has always protected herself against it.”

  She finishes with the vegetables and places them all in the pot, wiping the sides down.

  “Everything she has… Lord, everything she is, she shares with others. That girl would give you the last dollar in her purse, but she still believes she’s not worthy, thinks she’s boring or safe, and she protects her heart like it’s the crown jewels.”

  Wanda shakes her head and looks me straight in the eyes. “She let you in, boy. When Jasmine came to my home a few days ago, she was broken. Ain’t never seen anything like it and that girl is strong,” she says pointing out the door like Jasmine is standing in view. “She has courage, she is kind, but she is stupid. She cannot see her worth. And your sister…” I grind my teeth at the mention of her, “… she set Jasmine on edge. She was finally… finally,” Wanda throws her hands in the air, “… starting to believe love was possible. Then your sister came in and stomped all over Jasmine while her guard was well and truly down. Now…” She shrugs. “Now it’s Fort Knox.” Wanda slams her hand on the counter. “If you love her, then win her back. If you don’t… then walk away, boy. Walk the hell away. Now.” She storms out and I’m unsure if it’s me she’s angry with, my sister, or the idea I don’t love Jasmine like she clearly thinks I do.

  Do I?

  I shake my head because I have no damn idea. I mean, it’s been maybe a couple of weeks. You can’t love someone so soon, surely?

  “Hey, I’m Kenzie. Are you new?” The questions come from behind me, and I spin around and take in the girl in front of me. Blonde hair, brown eyes, and a chest which announces itself before she does. She’s probably around the same age as Jasmine, but this is definitely a girl, where Jasmine is all woman. It’s in the eyes, the soul, and it’s not something you can hide.

  “Oh my God, you’re Solomon ‘The Boss’ Lee,” she breathes out, her eyes wide, and I’m frozen. It never occurred to me someone would recognize me in a homeless shelter—I guess that was stupid of me.

  “Eh, yeah, I’m him,” I murmur, forcing a grin as this girl sizes me up.

  I want to find Wanda. Hell, I want to run to Wanda and ask her for help. I’ve had years of batting away overzealous fans, but it never gets any easier or any more comfortable no matter how many times I have to do it.

  “Doing your bit for the poor people? Yeah, me, too,” she says without allowing me to speak. Stepping toward me I back up, but the sink is at my butt, so I have nowhere to go. “You’re huge! What are you? Six four? Six five? Two hundred and forty pounds of pure muscle, huh?” She slides her hand up my chest and my body tightens. “You’re so hot. Maybe after your stint in here, we could go somewhere a little… quieter?”

  I look down at her. She’s taller than Jasmine, and I don’t like it, she has long blonde hair rather than short dark hair, and I don’t like it. She’s brash and forward where Pixie’s sweet and reserved and I really don’t like it. I like to chase, I’m the predator. I like to stalk those worth chasing. Jasmine is worth everything, worth fighting for and it’s then, in that single moment of realization my life changes, and I know it’s going to change forever.

  Unfortunately, also in this moment, Jasmine walks through the back door into the kitchen with a bag in her hand and a smile on her face. The smile drops when she sees Kenzie pressed against me, her hand on my chest, her legs stretched as she’s on her tiptoes with her lips chasing mine.

  “Oh, um… sorry to interrupt,” Jasmine stammers, dropping the bag next to the sink like a hot potato, and gunning it back out the door.

  I push Kenzie’s hands away and she stumbles to the side. I catch her by the elbow as Wanda storms through the door, clearly witnessing the commotion.

  I look between the two, my eyes ending up on Kenzie. “You’re a nice girl, but Jasmine, she’s my woman. Sorry,” I tell her wide eyes, and as I spin to follow Pixie, I catch the soft grin on Wanda’s face.

  Chapter 10

  Jasmine

  I evaded him.

  He was pissed and I get it. I watched as text after text came through, each one showing he was clearly becoming more frustrated, but I ignored them all.

  Wanda has called twice in the last week, and I answered the second time. She didn’t apologize for having him there waiting for me, but then again, I didn’t expect her to. Wanda always owns all her actions. She said he was there for me—the boy, as she calls him—is feeling me, and I shouldn’t let his sister get in the way of what could be.

  I didn’t tell Wanda his sister is no longer an issue after speaking to her at the restaurant. I know Evelyn won’t have a problem with Solomon and me being together. I’m not even angry about seeing Solomon and Kenzie like they were. I mean sure, when I first walked in, I was in shock. I didn’t expect to see him, but it hurt my heart even more seeing her hands all over him.

  It took around an hour or so to calm down and recognize the discomfort in his eyes, and the alarm as he leaned away from her.

  It’s none of that.

  The reason I don’t answer him, don’t run into his arms and ask him to keep me forever, is simply because I’m not good enough. I don’t want to be in the limelight, but I won’t escape it with him. People will judge me. They will look at my lifestyle, my past. They will decide I’m trash, or a gold digger, or a million other things. I’ve heard it all before, when I was at school and I really don’t want to relive in the media.

  No, this way is safer. I’m safer. My mental health is safer. Above all my heart is safer.

  My cell buzzes and I groan, assuming it’s Solomon, and I’m surprised when I see Meg’s name flash across the screen.

  “Hi,” I answer hoping this is not an intervention regarding Solomon.

  “Hey, girl. So, I know we’ve been chatting these last couple of weeks, and I want to thank you again for agreeing to read with the teens, they love it,” she gushes.

  “They’re great kids,” I reply with a smile.

  “Anyway, do you remember I mentioned about you coming over for dinner one night? Well, I was thinking tomorrow…” she pauses awaiting my reply.

  I let my brain click around to what day it is, Friday. Tomorrow I should be reading to the kids and helping at the shelter, but all I want to do is hide away. Wanda made it clear if Solomon came back, she would not turn down his help, so there’s a chance I’ll see him there. I think about what I want and need from my life. The truth is I want Solomon, but I’m not sure I’m willing to embark on something which may come to an end, and I’ll be left broken and screwed.

  “Jasmine?” Meg whispers and I jerk, remembering I’m actually on a phone call.

  “Sorry… sorry. Um… yeah, okay,” the words tumble out even though my brain isn’t quite in agreement with the decision I’m making.

  She laughs. “Don’t sound so happy. I’m not asking you to join me in a ritual virgin burial.”

  I giggle. “Sorry, my head is somewhere else.”

  “With someone else, you mean?” she replies.

  I cough, it’s my excuse not to answer.

  “It’s okay, I understand avoidance. Trust me,” she snorts a semi-laugh and I catch myself in the mirror—there’s a huge grin on my face.

  “So, if I text you my address, will you be able to find your way here. Say seven?” she asks.

  “Are you no
t at the hospital tomorrow?”

  “Yeah, but I’ll be done before our dinner, and Will’s got football on Sunday, so it will be a short training day for him tomorrow.”

  My mind moves to Solomon and once again I find myself wondering how the hell can I feel so strongly for him so soon? Then I think about his eyes, his soft lips, and his kind heart. He’s as beautiful inside as he is outside, and I know I need to see him again, even if it’s only for closure.

  “Yes. Send me the address and I’ll see you tomorrow night. Um… it’s not dressy, right?” I ask hoping she says no.

  Meg laughs, it’s a belly laugh. “This proves to me how we need to spend more time together. You’ll learn a question like that never belongs in our conversations. And to answer it so you are clear, no, come as casual as you like. Wear unicorn PJs for all I care.”

  I smile. “I think I’ll find something a little more appropriate to wear. Plus, my PJs are llamas.”

  “Hmm… not as sparkly,” she states.

  “My llamas are wearing sparkly unicorn hats.”

  “Much better.” She chuckles. “Right, gotta go. See you tomorrow.”

  “Bye,” I say, and we both disconnect.

  I lay back on my bed, listening to the rain hitting my window and pooling in the gap where it doesn’t quite close. I should put a bowl underneath the window because soon the water will spill over, and start rolling down the wall.

  Instead, with a sigh, I roll over and face away from the rain. I didn’t ask Meg if she was inviting Solomon, I didn’t want to know, and I’m not sure if she had told me he was going whether I would have stayed away or been excited to see him.

  It’s why I didn’t ask because I don’t want to have to consciously make a decision.

  “Okay, have a think this week about which book you want to read next week,” I tell the younger children as I finish tidying. As always, the Saturday morning reading session is where I manage to find peace, except on those sad days.

  Today started out as a good day. I read to the teens first, then, when I came in to see the younger children, I noticed Millie was missing. I looked briefly at the nurse and the smile she gave, told me Millie had gotten the all-clear, rung the bell, and had gone home. The relief I felt from just that smile was immense.

  “Hey, Mary, could you help me with something?” I ask.

  “Sure,” she replies, stepping out from the nurse’s station. “What’s up?”

  “I want to see if Meg is working. I know she normally works on the teen ward, but she wasn’t there when I left a couple of hours ago,” I say pointing toward the other ward.

  “Let me check,” she says lifting the phone and pressing a couple of buttons. “Hey, Jill, is Meg on today?” She pauses. “Uh-huh. Can she spare two minutes? Outside the ward. Yeah. Okay. Thanks.” She hangs up and looks at me with a smile. “She’s just started. If you head out she’ll meet you near the elevator,” she tells me.

  “Cool, thanks, Mary, I’ll see you next week.” I wave as I walk away.

  “Jasmine, I didn’t expect to see you until tonight. Don’t tell me you’re canceling.” She puts her hands on her hips and raises an eyebrow at me.

  “No,” I reply and she tilts her head. “No, honestly, I’m not canceling, and I’m sorry to spring you at work, but I wanted to ask you something. And because I’m not sure who might be at your place tonight I wanted to ask you now, while we’re alone.”

  “This sounds really serious.” She frowns. “What’s the question?”

  I suck a breath and look her dead in the eyes. “How do you do it?”

  Meg frowns, confused.

  I push through my awkwardness at asking her something so personal. “The media, and everything that comes with dating and then being married to… well, a famous athlete?” My gaze hits the floor, ashamed for caring about trivial stuff, but the truth is I do.

  She chuckles and I raise my head to look at her genuine smile. “I hate it.” She shrugs. “If I could have had Will, and he be a normal guy who nobody knew then I would have chosen that option, but the truth is, it wouldn’t have been him. What he does, the fame and fortune that comes with it… it’s who he is.” She places her hand on my shoulder. “And I love who he is. I wouldn’t change him.” I nod, understanding her response. “Let me tell you something, the media is a bitch, and some of the fans don’t give us space, even worse the women who come onto him not caring that he’s married… yeah, that’s hard.” Meg bites the bottom of her lip, scowls, and shakes her head angrily before looking back at me. “What you need to decide is… if he’s worth it? If your love for him can allow you to see past his persona and accept his heart.”

  I look at her and smile. “Loving his heart was never a problem,” I reply.

  Meg grins. “Then you already have your answer. Now you need to accept it and let him know.”

  I sigh, leaning against the wall while I jab at the button for the elevator.

  “Have you spoken to him, since the run-in with Evelyn?” Meg asks.

  I look at her. “ You know about that?” I don’t know why I ask her, it’s clear she knows.

  “Will had Solomon over the other night. He’s… struggling at practice.”

  I clench my fists knowing he’s probably been distracted with me not answering his texts.

  “How can it be normal, though?”

  “Normal?” Meg questions.

  “To feel this deeply for someone when you’ve only really just met…” my words tail off because I can’t change how I feel.

  “Who gets to choose what normal is? Who the hell decides our lives for us? When you know, you know. And if you were with Solomon for five years and then split, would you rather you’d never had the good times, if it meant you could forget the bad? Would you rather erase those five years? If so, then you should walk away now. Otherwise, grab on with both hands and don’t ever let go.”

  I nod at her. “He’s my North Star,” I whisper my truth, a truth I should have told Solomon first. “From the moment I met him, he’s been guiding me, and he probably doesn’t even realize. I’ve relied on myself for so long, and with Solomon, I have another person in my corner. Someone else who I hope loves me.” I know I must have stars in my eyes with my own romantic thoughts, but I don’t care. “I…” I wonder whether to admit my fear.

  “What?” Meg encourages.

  “I’m not sure if he told you what Evelyn said, but I took it to heart for about a minute.” I smile, knowing it was a lot longer than that, but I’m over it now. “What she said though, about me not being good enough, I already felt that way. I mean… I have no money, no schooling, I don’t have a decent job or good friends. I have nothing to offer him.” I suck in a breath, and release a couple of warm tears.

  “Hey, first of all you do have good friends.” She winks pointing at herself. “I am the best kind of friend.” Meg grins and I mirror her, then her grin drops and she becomes serious for a moment. “I know…” she grips my wrist, “… this part is hard. I really do understand, but what I learned is the ones who love us see nothing past us. They want us as we are, and nothing else really matters. If you spun the roles, if Solomon didn’t have all the materialistic stuff he does, if he wasn’t famous, would you still love him?” she questions.

  I answer immediately, “Yes. Yes, I would.”

  “Then you have your answer. And it’s good to know you do love him.” She smiles slyly, clearly pleased she’s managed to get me to admit my feelings.

  “Thank you, Meg. Thank you, so much,” I murmur.

  Leaning forward, we hug, and I relish the moment, pleased I can call her a friend.

  “I’ll see you tonight?” she queries.

  “Yeah,” I smile. “But I might forgo the casual this once.” I wink and her smile spreads across her face.

  The elevator pings, the doors open, and I step on with a matching smile on my face as Meg waves goodbye.

  I feel lighter now that I know what I want. I know I can
overcome my own fears, the only issue I have now is whether Solomon will still want me. I’ve ignored him all week, and he hasn’t texted or called at all in the last two days. I bite down on my bottom lip, worrying whether I’ve lost my one chance at real happiness.

  I pop into the thrift store, unfortunately, there’s nothing new to buy today, so I stop at the local grocery store and buy some essentials like toothpaste to hand out instead. When I arrive at the shelter, I walk around the back as usual, aware I’m running late because of both my chat with Meg and the extra stop at the store. I’m about to push the back door open when Kenzie comes around the corner after me.

  “Oh, sorry, I didn’t see you there, Jasmine.” Her gaze drops to the ground.

  “It’s okay. Hey, are you alright?” I ask, grabbing her shoulder.

  “I’m sorry about last week… me all over Solomon.” She glances up and shrugs, her cheeks redden and I bite down on my grin.

  “Don’t even worry about it, you didn’t know we had history,” I answer softly.

  “You don’t only have history, Jasmine, that man is absolutely head over heels about you. Do you know he’s been here three nights this week to help Wanda? Trust me, Solomon is yours, completely.” She straightens her top nervously and I realize she’s still worried.

  “I’m okay. You know I’m not upset with you?” I tell her, and her eyes widen.

  “Oh, thank goodness. I was so scared I’d upset you, and I really didn’t want to do that.” Kenzie shuffles from side to side and I see her youth, although she’s barely younger than me, she’s still innocent. My life has aged my soul somewhat.

  “If you want to go in, I’ll be there soon, I just need to make a call,” I lie, needing a moment to take a breath and process our conversation.

  Solomon has been here this week helping Wanda. There’s no way he would have thought he’d run into me. He knows I work nights, but then again, he could be trying to get in my good books by proxy? I chastise myself. What more does this man have to do to show me he cares?